Digestive Wellness: Strengthen the Immune System and Prevent Disease Through Healthy Digestion, Fourth Edition (77 page)

5–10 mg of manganese

At least 15 mg of zinc

At least 400 mcg of folic acid

At least 10 mg of each B vitamin

If you do this, the rest of the nutrients will be in line.

The health of our teeth, tongue, and gums is integral to the health of the rest of the digestive tract. Digestive enzymes in saliva begin the process of carbohydrate digestion, and chewing sends signals to the brain, which in turn sends signals to the stomach that food is on the way. Thorough chewing of food can help with indigestion.

Irritation and inflammation in the mouth can be signs of food or chemical sensitivities or allergies. The mouth is our first contact with ingested allergens. Careful investigation of the mouth area can give information about a person’s nutritional status. Bleeding gums indicate the need for vitamin C and bioflavonoids. Receding gums indicate bone loss, so bone nutrients are needed. Deep pockets in gums indicate the need for vitamin C, bioflavonoids, and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10).

Using mouthwash for bad breath is like putting a Band-Aid on a broken leg. First, consult a dentist to see if it is caused by poor dental hygiene, periodontal disease, or tooth infections. Halitosis is typically caused by dental issues. If so, follow your dentist’s advice, and also look in the section on gum and tooth health that follows. But also look deeper: halitosis often signals digestive imbalances lower down in the digestive tract. Bad breath can signal an infection of some sort: H. pylori, chronic tonsillitis, chronic sinusitis, or digestive dysbiosis. Other contributors include low
HCl levels in the stomach, GERD, poor flora, liver disease, pancreatic or kidney disease, respiratory infections, and constipation.

Check for infection.
Halitosis has been associated with H. pylori, a bacteria involved in stomach infection. Ask your doctor to check you for H. pylori. H. pylori was found in 15 percent of people with periodontal disease. See the sections on GERD and gastric ulcers in
Chapter 20
for treatment options.

Eliminate constipation.
See the section on stool transit time in
Chapter 2
and do the self-test. See also the section on constipation in
Chapter 25
.

Try a probiotic supplement.
Take one or two capsules of acidophilus and bifidus between meals.

Consider possible lactose intolerance.
Lactose intolerance can cause bad breath, other digestive symptoms, and headaches. The simplest way to discover if you have lactose intolerance is to avoid all dairy products and dairy-containing food for two weeks, then see if your symptoms have improved.

Look for other causes if the problem persists.
If you continue to have problems, you might be fermenting rather than digesting your foods. First, check out your HCl levels. (See
Chapter 11
.) Second, ask your doctor to run a comprehensive digestive stool analysis (CDSA) with parasitology evaluation. You may have dysbiosis, parasites, or a helicobacter infection (the bacteria implicated in ulcers). A CDSA can help you find out what’s amiss.

Our skin is continuously replacing itself, and the places where our skin folds need to be replaced even more often. B-complex vitamins, particularly vitamins B
₂
(riboflavin) and B
₆
(pyridoxine), assist in formation of new skin. Cracks at the corners of our lips, called cheilosis, are most often associated with these nutrient deficiencies. They can easily become infected by yeast (Candida albicans). If they do not respond to nutritional therapy, have a physician look for other causes.

Take B-complex vitamins. Try 50 to 100 mg one to three times daily in trial for four weeks.

Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums that, if left alone, often progresses to periodontal disease, an inflammation of the bone around the teeth. Although the inflammation is in the mouth, it’s well established that people with inflammation in their gums have increased risk of heart disease. A Scottish study with more than 11,000 participants demonstrated that people who brushed their teeth less than twice daily had a 70 percent higher risk of having heart disease than people who brush twice daily. This was also demonstrated with higher levels of inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein and fibrinogen. Seems like a pretty easy thing to do: brush twice a day and floss once a day.

Periodontal disease increases with plaque buildup, age, long-term use of steroid medications, and in diabetics, people with systemic disease, and smokers. The presence of silver fillings, which contain 50 percent mercury, has also been found to predispose people to periodontal disease. One study showed that when silver fillings were removed, 86 percent of the 125 oral cavity symptoms being studied were eliminated or improved.

Gingivitis and periodontal disease are complex problems that have complex solutions. Periodontal disease will affect 9 out of 10 Americans during their lifetimes, and 4 out of 10 will lose all their teeth. Regular dental care is essential. Follow your dentist’s advice and practice consistent oral hygiene: brush and floss daily.